Chapter Text
Laenyll
"Joffrey...how bad is he?" her voice is low, barely extending out into the hall.
Being back home was supposed to fill her body with some sort of relief. The salty sea air was meant to subdue the worries carved into her mind and relieve the aches tied into her bones. Home was supposed to make her feel something other than dread. She tried fooling herself in the blissful days she's spent with Rhaenyra before and after the ceremony. She believed that she chose to give her brother the space he yelled out for. But she's just been a coward.
She wanted to save herself from her brothers words and the expressions on his face. But when she arrived late in the night and Joffrey came to her-worried stricken, it came to view just how wrong she's been.
Joffrey shifts closer until his chest is against her shoulder. He leans down, his red hair brushing against the side of her face.
"My Princess, Prince Laenor has completely closed himself off since you've left. He request his supper to be delivered to his chambers...but often he just leaves it. He allows no one in nor out. I've only gotten so far." His voice matches in volume. "If I can speak freely, Princess..."
She angles her head up, her brows furrowed.
"Have you never spoken freely with it came to me or Laenor? Not sure why you're suddenly asking permission, Joffrey."
The three of them were close, closer than what others would say to be normal. He's the sworn sword of House Velayron but Joffrey acts as her personal guard when she returns home to Driftmark.
He grins, his head tilting slightly.
"It would be better if you do not leave again so soon. It may break him for good. He is much more important than whatever business that keeps you in Kingslanding." He lifts a finger a pushes a strand of Laenyll's hair behind her ear. "He is not the only one who has felt your absence."
The corners of her lips twitch, "Careful Ser Lonmouth...anyone who will see may think you have something for the wrong twin."
She wasn't blind to the stolen glances and the secret talks between the Lonmouth boy and her brother. She found herself growing protective of what they have because it made Laenor happy. And his happiness is supposed to be everything to her but her late actions proved different.
Joffrey places a kiss on the top of her head, the action familiar.
"If that's the act we must put on, My Princess. I will do anything to keep you both in my life." he flatters.
Laenyll shakes her head her smile widening, "Always one to flatter."
"When we marry, I will flatter you till no end."
She releases a weighty sigh, her shoulders sinking with it. She looks up at him once more, "If only the gods would allow us to be so joyous in our duties."
She presses a gentle kiss onto his cheek before stepping away. She turns and makes her way down the hall towards her shared room with Laenor. When she turns the corner, she spots the abandoned food tray on the floor. She presses her hand against her chest, her fingers digging slightly into the fabric.
She raises her first, bringing it against the door in a repetitive motion.
"Laenor, it's me...your sister." she speaks loud enough for her voice to travel to the other side of the door. "Open the door, we have to talk."
Laenyll brings her face closer to the door to try and hear him on the other side. She flinches back when she hears the sound of glass breaking against the wall. She inhales sharply, reaching and turning the doorknob. She repeatedly brings her shoulder against the wood.
"Laenor!"
When the door doesn't budge, she frantically looks around for something heavy. She curses at herself for not having her sword with her. She turns and faces one of the guards standing watch at the end of the hall. She calls for him to hand her his sword. When he does, she repeatedly drives it into the lock it shatters. It clatters to the floor as she rushes in.
Immediately the state of the room comes into view. Broken pieces of furniture scattered around the room. His curtains and sheets are shredded. There were books with pages ripped out on the floor. She draws her eyes north to see Laenor sitting surrounding by broken glass.
Her chest starts to tighten. She carefully steps over the mess until she's standing beside Laenor. From there, the cuts and bruises layering his skin come to view. Laenyll covers her mouth to suppress her cry of shock.
"What have you done to yourself?" her voice trembles.
Her stomach pinches as she watches her brother flinch at the sound of her voice. Laenor keeps his eyes pinned to the wall.
"I said I didn't want you here." he mutters, picking up a shard of glass.
"I am your sister, you can't just order me not to be here." She moves to stand in front of him making sure to miss the broken glass.
"That didn't stop you from leaving any other time." Laenor snaps, his eyes glaring into hers.
Now it was Laenyll's turn to flinch. She presses the palm of her hand onto her chest as she looks towards the floor.
"I am sorry, okay? But things are...changing at Kingslanding and I must be there to make sure our future goes right."
He scoffs, "So, you disappear for weeks for us?" He pushes himself off the floor and stands towering over Laenyll. He grips her hand as he pushes up her sleeve, "You come back bruised and bloody for us?"
He gestures to her hair and clothing, "You appeal to them for us?"
She squeezes her eyes shut as a wave of nauseous ripples through her.
"You bed Rhaenyra for us?!" Laenor shouts. "Look at me!"
He grabs a hold of both of her arms and rocks her forcefully.
"Stop kidding yourself...nothing is for us anymore. It's all for you!" he turns away to leave.
Laenyll panics, wrapping her arms around him.
"No, no, please." she cries out. "I'm sorry!"
Laenor pushes against her trying to free himself but she only tightens her hold. Their fights never once got physical. They wouldn't dare be the one to cause the other harm. Not like this. He continues to fight against her restraint until he pushes hard enough, sending her stumbling back. She hisses out of pain when she steps on a something sharp.
"How did you know?" was the first thing out of her mouth.
"Are you forgetting we are born from the same womb at the same time. I know when there's something different with you. I notice every change. It was idiotic of me to assume that you were equally as upset as I was. But behold..." he thrashes his hands forward. "...you just wanted someone to pleasure you. It doesn't matter who gets hurt, as long as the great Laenyll gets what she wants!"
"No..."
Her legs go weak as she falls to the floor. Tears begin to rush down her face. Her hand repeatedly glides across her chest. The sickening ache was back. She could feel it clawing though her.
"Laenyll."
An alarming chill runs through her body. Her gaze drags upwards until she's locking eyes with the man standing behind Laenor.
"F-Father?"
The look in his eyes resembles anger and disappointment.
"You were in bed with the Princess?" he repeats.
Laenyll aimlessly starts to shake her head. Her body began to feel numb. No one was supposed to find out. It wasn't supposed to go like this. She shift her gaze onto Laenor whose eyes were glossy from unshed tears. She pleads silently with him. To save her like he always did.
"I have enough going on with the stepstones...I do not need to hear about my daughter becoming Intimate with someone with the likes of the Kings daughter." his tone was sharp and unwavering. "You are not to leave Driftmark. You will only accompany me to the council meetings or with your Mother."
"It is time you took your duty here more seriously."